Case: State of Michigan v. United States Department of Homeland Security

2:26-cv-10968 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: March 24, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

On March 24, 2026, the State of Michigan and the City of Romulus filed suit against the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the DHS Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Acting Director of ICE, Todd M. Lyons in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Plaintiffs challenged DHS and ICE's February 2026 purchase of a commercial warehouse in Romulus, Michigan, which the agencies intended to convert into an immigration detention center for 500 detainees without providing notice to state or city officials. Plaintiffs alleged that the warehouse was fundamentally inappropriate for detention purposes due to multiple deficiencies, including its proximity to schools and residential areas, its location in a frequently flooding floodplain, inadequate infrastructure with only six bathrooms and insufficient sewage capacity, and its position on a three-lane road incapable of handling the anticipated traffic. They further contended that DHS failed to consider existing prison facilities as required by federal law and neglected to conduct mandatory environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or consult with local officials as mandated by the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act (ICA). The complaint brought seven counts under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), challenging violations of federal detention placement requirements, failure to consider existing facilities, NEPA violations, and ICA violations. Plaintiffs sought comprehensive relief, including declaratory judgment, injunctive relief to prevent the facility's conversion and operation, retention of jurisdiction for compliance monitoring, and attorneys' fees and costs.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (3/27/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72584041/parties/michigan-state-of-v-united-states-department-of-homeland-security/

Judge(s)

Grey, Jonathan J.C. (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Giovanatti, Neil Anthony (Michigan)

Greco, David F. (Michigan)

Houston, Benjamin Charles (Michigan)

Judge(s)

Grey, Jonathan J.C. (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Giovanatti, Neil Anthony (Michigan)

Greco, David F. (Michigan)

Houston, Benjamin Charles (Michigan)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 2:26-cv-10968	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief State of Michigan v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al.	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72584041/michigan-state-of-v-united-states-department-of-homeland-security/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:10 a.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	March 24, 2026	COMPLAINT filed by State of Michigan, City of Romulus against Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Department of Homeland Security, Todd M Lyons. Plaintiff requests summons issued. Receipt No: AMIEDC-10653506 - Fee: $ 405. County of 1st Plaintiff: Wayne - County Where Action Arose: Wayne - County of 1st Defendant: USA. [Previously dismissed case: No] [Possible companion case(s): None] (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Aerial Photo, # 3 Exhibit 2 - ICE DRI, # 4 Exhibit 3 - Real Estate Summary, # 5 Exhibit 4 - Property Transfer Affidavit, # 6 Exhibit 5 - Conservation Easement Map, # 7 Exhibit 6 - Floodplain Notice) (Giovanatti, Neil) (Entered: 03/24/2026) 1 Index of Exhibits View on RECAP 2 Exhibit 1 - Aerial Photo View on RECAP 3 Exhibit 2 - ICE DRI View on RECAP 4 Exhibit 3 - Real Estate Summary View on RECAP 5 Exhibit 4 - Property Transfer Affidavit View on RECAP 6 Exhibit 5 - Conservation Easement Map View on RECAP 7 Exhibit 6 - Floodplain Notice View on RECAP	Clearinghouse
2	March 24, 2026	SUMMONS Issued for * All Defendants * (TTho) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	RECAP
3	March 24, 2026	SUMMONS Issued for the United States Attorney and the Office of the Attorney General. (TTho) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	RECAP
4	March 24, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin Charles Houston on behalf of State of Michigan. (Houston, Benjamin) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	RECAP
5	March 24, 2026	AFFIDAVIT of Wendy Todd re 2 Summons Issued, 1 Complaint,,, 3 Summons Issued for US Attorney/Attorney General by Romulus, City of, State of Michigan (Giovanatti, Neil) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	RECAP
6	March 24, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by David F. Greco on behalf of Romulus, City of. (Greco, David) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	RECAP
	March 24, 2026	A United States Magistrate Judge of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form is available for download at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov (TTho)
7	March 27, 2026	MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages by All Plaintiffs. (Giovanatti, Neil) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
8	March 30, 2026	TEXT-ONLY ORDER: For the reasons set forth in the plaintiff's motion for leave to file excess pages (ECF No. 7 ) the Court GRANTS the plaintiff's request to file a motion for preliminary injunction not to exceed thirty (30) pages. Signed by District Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey. (SOso) (Entered: 03/30/2026)	RECAP
	March 30, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages
9	March 31, 2026	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction with Brief in Support by Romulus, City of, State of Michigan. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1 - McCraight Declaration, # 3 Exhibit 2 - Scappaticci Declaration, # 4 Exhibit 3 - Sanders Declaration, # 5 Exhibit 4 - LaBarre Declaration, # 6 Exhibit 5 - Lyon Letter dated 2/27/26, # 7 Exhibit 6 - Romulus Resolution 26-044, # 8 Exhibit 7 - Expedited FOIA from AG 3/4/26) (Giovanatti, Neil) (Entered: 03/31/2026) 1 Index of Exhibits View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - McCraight Declaration View on PACER 3 Exhibit 2 - Scappaticci Declaration View on PACER 4 Exhibit 3 - Sanders Declaration View on PACER 5 Exhibit 4 - LaBarre Declaration View on PACER 6 Exhibit 5 - Lyon Letter dated 2/27/26 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 6 - Romulus Resolution 26-044 View on PACER 8 Exhibit 7 - Expedited FOIA from AG 3/4/26 View on PACER	RECAP
10	March 31, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by David J. Byerley on behalf of All Defendants. (Byerley, David) (Entered: 03/31/2026)	RECAP
11	April 6, 2026	NOTICE OF IN PERSON HEARING on 9 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction with Brief in Support. Response due by 4/21/2026 Reply due by 4/28/2026 Motion Hearing set for 5/18/2026 10:30 AM before District Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey (SOso) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Michigan

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Immigration Enforcement

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 24, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Michigan 2:26-cv-10968

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of State of Michigan v. United States Department of Homeland Security, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/47965/ (last updated 3/27/2026).